Proteofaktor

Proteofaktor is a term used in the field of proteomics to describe a protein that influences the structure, function, or stability of another protein. These factors can be categorized into several types based on their mode of action:

1. Proteolytic factors: These are enzymes that cleave proteins into smaller peptides or amino acids. Examples include caspases, which are involved in apoptosis, and cathepsins, which are found in lysosomes.

2. Proteolytic inhibitors: These are proteins that inhibit the activity of proteolytic enzymes. Examples include inhibitors of caspases and cathepsins.

3. Proteolytic activators: These are proteins that activate zymogens (inactive precursors of enzymes) into their active forms. Examples include plasminogen activators and urokinase-type plasminogen activator.

4. Proteolytic modulators: These are proteins that modulate the activity of proteolytic enzymes. Examples include tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), which inhibit the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs).

5. Proteolytic chaperones: These are proteins that assist in the folding and assembly of other proteins. Examples include chaperonins and heat shock proteins.

Proteofaktors play crucial roles in various biological processes, including cell signaling, cell death, and tissue remodeling. They are also potential targets for therapeutic interventions in diseases such as cancer, inflammation, and neurodegenerative disorders. The study of proteofaktors is an active area of research in proteomics and molecular biology.